Verbena plant named ‘Iplilena’

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by its lilac flower, early flowering, and a habit that is very compact and later spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Iplilena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

The new cultivar is originated from the self pollination of ‘A0961-1’. ‘A0961-1’ is a violet flowering Verbena. ‘A0961-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘A0961-1’ has not been patented.

As a result of this self pollination the present cultivar was created in 2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a two year period. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US, only in zones 7, 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data that define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 week old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 10.5 cm container. Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light.

Color reference are primarily to the RHS Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘IPLILENA,’ ITS PARENT AND THE MOST RESEMBLING VARIETY ‘Vilena’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. ‘Iplilena’ ‘A0961-1’ 12,279) Flower color Lilac Violet Purple violet 2^(nd) flower color Red Violet Purple violet

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.         -   Parentage.—Female and pollen parent: A seedling named             ‘A0961-1’ is one of our seedlings from our A-generation of             plants.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, later spreading, decumbent.         -   Plant height.—8-10 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—35-40 cm.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Number of branches per plant.—25-30.         -   Blooming period.—From March until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—2-3 mm.         -   Length.—10 to 15 cm.         -   Shape.—Tetragonal.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Absent.         -   Color of the stem.—137B.         -   Length of internode.—20-35 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Length lateral branches.—19-26 cm. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margin.—Double incised.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—14-22 mm.         -   Width.—12-18 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—8-14 mm.         -   Number of incisions.—2-6 per leaf.         -   Color.—Upper side: 138B. Lower side: 138C.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Length of petiole.—3-6 mm.         -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Petiole diameter.—1 mm.         -   Petiole coloration.—138B, both surfaces. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—18-30 mm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—1 mm.         -   Peduncle color.—143B.         -   Bud size.—Diameter: 2 mm. Length: 8-10 mm.         -   Bud shape.—Elongated and ovate.         -   Bud color.—137B.         -   Sepals.—Color (upper side): 143B. Color (lower side): 143B.             Form: Upright. Number: 5,fused. Length: 7-8 mm. Width: 2 mm.             Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. -   The flower:     -   -   Flower diameter.—12-18 mm.         -   Flower height.—12-18 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—13-17 mm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—2 mm.         -   Flower throat colour.—156A.         -   Inflorescence.—Corymb.         -   Flower-form.—Single, salverform; sessile on terminal             corymbs.         -   Petal colour.—Upper side: N80B, towards the centre 72B.             Lower side: N80C.         -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.         -   No. of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.         -   Petal apex.—Obcordate.         -   Petal base.—Fused.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the petal.—Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 4-6 mm.         -   Inflorescence.—Length: 18-35 mm. Diameter 25-30 mm.         -   Calyx length.—10-12 mm.         -   Calyx diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of Calyx Limb.—Present, Color: 61A.         -   Color of the calyx.—137C.         -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—35-60.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to             open in one corymb over a period of 18 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—2-4 days. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther             length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144B. Pollen amount: No pollen.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.2 cm.             Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length:             1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C. -   The fruit and the seed: No fruit development or seed set has been     observed to date. -   Roots: Type of roots: Fibrous, color 155C. Roots start to grow on     every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the     nodes. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Plants of the new Verbena have been             noted to be resistant to especially powdery mildew.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants of the new Verbena have been             observed to tolerate temperatures from −5-35 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 